China funding Php 4-B bridges, drug rehab projects in PHL

On the sidelines of Philippine-China Business Talks and Signing Ceremony in Makati City, Zhao said Chinese government would provide grants worth 500 million yuan, or about Php 3.6 billion, for two bridges over Pasig River.

The grant is part of the agreement in the 28th Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation (JCETC) signed by Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Chinese Minister of Comerce Zhong Shan held here last week.

These bridges will be connecting Binondo and Intramuros and Mandaluyong and Makati.

"We will make them iconic - a symbol of China and Philippines friendship," Zhao said.

The Chinese envoy also said two drug rehabilitation centers would be built in Mindanao with 150 beds for each facility.

This is in support of the health component of the war on drugs of the Duterte administration.

Zhao noted that the recent cooperation between the Philippines and China was an offshoot of the renewed partnership between the two countries following the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte and President Xi Jinping in Beijing in October last year.

On Thursday, Zhao confirmed that Vice Premier Wang Yang will be arriving the Philippines.

Wang will be the top Chinese government official to visit the country since the Duterte administration started. (PNA)

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